Jacksonville bringing college life back to downtown

[...] a budding college scene is emerging as Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and the University of North Florida all look at ways to pump some academia into the heart of the city.

"If you look at downtowns across the country in cities that are thriving, colleges and universities are a huge part of that," said Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision, a nonprofit that represents downtown property owners.

In addition to JU's move to open a downtown satellite, Florida State College of Jacksonville is aiming for August to move 58 students into housing at a six-story building under renovation at 20 W. Bay St. The ground floor will have a restaurant as part of the college's culinary arts program, which is housed in FSCJ's campus on the edge of downtown.

A day after JU President Tim Cost appeared before the Downtown Investment Authority, Cost took part Dec. 15 in a ground-breaking ceremony for Dolphin Pointe Landing, an $18 million skilled nursing center next to the Arlington campus.

JU students studying healthcare will work in the nursing center as part of their college experience, similar to a teaching hospital.

While the students going to JU will fit the profile of professionals getting advanced degrees, Florida State College of Jacksonville's downtown housing will cater to college students earlier in their academic pursuits.